WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)+17% vs national median113 grads tracked

Computer Programming at Kirkwood Community College

Ranked 9th of 39 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Computer Programming by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$50,881
middle 50%: $37,706 – $62,075
Median · 5 years out
$76,958
middle 50%: $55,817 – $111,872
Median · 10 years out
n/a
not enough graduates to report

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Computer Programming (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Kirkwood Community College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Computer Programming earn a median $50,881 one year after graduating, rising to $76,958 by year five. Five years out, earnings run 17% above the national median of $65,986 for this field, ranking 9th of 39 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
5.6 yrs
≈ $6,357 total interest

Same major at other universities

Portland Community College
$79,996 · 5 yrs out
North Hennepin Community College
$79,564 · 5 yrs out
Central Texas College District
$78,948 · 5 yrs out
Brookhaven College
$78,948 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
$78,529 · 5 yrs out
North Lake College
$77,273 · 5 yrs out
Minneapolis Community and Technical College
$76,554 · 5 yrs out
Des Moines Area Community College
$72,928 · 5 yrs out
College Of DuPage
$72,299 · 5 yrs out
Metropolitan Community College
$71,212 · 5 yrs out
Greenville Technical College
$70,870 · 5 yrs out
Manchester Community College
$68,626 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Kirkwood Community College

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$85,664 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$80,729 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$67,675 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$67,570 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$67,528 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Certificate)
$65,511 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Associate)
$65,458 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Associate)
$65,458 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Associate)
$65,062 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$65,062 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$64,578 · 5 yrs out

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